The back to school season is the perfect time to set the tone for a successful year in your French classes. One of the best ways to welcome students and create a positive classroom environment is through engaging French ice breakers that incorporate differentiation. Differentiation ensures that students of all proficiency levels feel included and confident from day one.
Here are five fresh French ice breakers designed for back to school that you can easily adapt for all learners in your French classes.
1. Emoji Introductions: A Fun French Ice Breaker
Start your back to school lesson with an emoji introduction activity. Ask students to pick 3–5 emojis that describe them and then explain their choices in French.
Differentiation tips:
For beginners, encourage one-word or phrase responses like Je suis sportif or J’aime la musique.
More advanced students can form full sentences or short stories about their emojis.
This activity is a creative and modern French ice breaker that engages students while building vocabulary and speaking confidence.
2. “Mon Objet Préféré” Show and Tell
Ask students to bring or describe their favorite object (un objet préféré) and share why it’s important to them in French.
Differentiation tips:
Beginners can use simple phrases: C’est mon objet préféré. C’est…
Advanced learners can give detailed descriptions or tell a short story about their object.
This personal, low-prep activity encourages vocabulary use and speaking practice right from day one.
3. French Question Ball Toss
Use a soft ball or a small beanbag and have students toss it to one another. The catcher must answer a simple French question you call out or that’s written on the ball (e.g., Comment tu t’appelles ?, Quel est ton animal préféré ?).
Differentiation tips:
Beginners answer with short phrases or single words.
Advanced students give full sentences or add details.
This active game encourages speaking and listening in a fun, low-pressure way — perfect for back to school and easy to adapt for all levels!
4. Draw and Describe: Your Favorite Place
Have students draw their favorite place and describe it in French.
Differentiation:
Beginners label their drawings with single words or short phrases.
More advanced students write or present full sentences about their place.
This artistic activity fosters creativity and allows for varied language production levels, making it an excellent French ice breaker for back to school French classes.
5. “Would You Rather?” en Français
Ask fun “Would you rather?” questions in French to get students moving and talking.
Examples:
Tu préfères la plage ou la montagne ?
Tu préfères les chats ou les chiens ?
Differentiation tips:
Beginners respond with words or gestures.
Advanced students explain their choices and ask follow-up questions.
This energetic French ice breaker encourages spontaneous speaking and helps students practice question formation—great for the back to school period.
Why Use Differentiated French Ice Breakers for Back to School?
Starting your French classes with inclusive and engaging French ice breakers sets a welcoming tone and builds community. Incorporating differentiation ensures that all students, whether beginners or more advanced, feel successful and excited about learning French. Plus, these activities require minimal prep but offer maximum engagement during the busy back to school season.
👉 Read more: How To Get To Know Your Students At The Beginning Of The School Year